Moira- fate

Hamartia- flaw
Peripeteia- a reversal
Anagnorisis-recognition
Catharsis- purging of emotion
Unity of time, place and action

Purpose, Passion, and Perception
The play begins with a purpose, such as finding
the source of the plague in Oedipus
Then as the path becomes tangled and events
unfold, the tragic figure begins an extensive
process of soul-searching and suffers an inner
agony--the passion
The perception of the truth involves a fate that
the tragic figure would rather not face. It might
be death or, as in Oedipus exile.
Prologue
Established conflict
Parodos
Entrance of Chorus
Episodes/ Agons
Developed dramatic relationship between characters
Catastrophe
Down turn
Exodos
End of action


The city is beset by a plague.
Oedipus solved the riddle of the Sphinx.
Creon has been sent to consult the oracle at Delphi.






The chorus sings and appeals to the Gods
for a solution.

Dramatic Irony-

If Id been present then , there would have been no
mystery, no long hunt without a clue in hand
Now my curse on the murderer. Whoever he isI curse
myself as wellif by any chance he proves to be an
intimate of our house here at my hearth, with my full
knowledge may the curse I just called down on him strike
me!

You are the curse, the corruption of the
land
Theme vision/blindness

The chorus is now worried-
The skilled prophet scans the birds and shatters me with
terror!
I cant accept him, cant deny him, don't know what to say,
Im lost and the wings of dark foreboding beating-

I hear King Oedipus levels terrible charges at me.

Who in his right mind would rather rule and live in
anxiety than sleep in peace?



The chorus pleads with Oedipus-
The mans your friend, your kin, hes under oath- dont
cast him out, disgraced, branded with guilt on the
strength of hearsay only.


A prophet? Well then free yourself of every charge!
Listen to me and learn some peace of mind: no skill in
the world, nothing human can penetrate the future.

He was swarthy and the gray had just begun to streak
his temples, and his buildwasnt far from yours.

So much for prophecy. Its neither here nor there. From
this day on. I wouldnt look left or right.
Chorus now struggles with worry over mans pride-
Pride breeds the tyrant

Messenger arrives with news of Polybus death and Oedipus
adoption

Theme-- Fate/ free will
Jocasta says-
What should a man fear? Its all chance, chance rules our lives
Chorus is hopeful- reassuring maybe Oedipus is the child of Apollo
or Pan or Dionysus

Sheppard arrives
Truth revealed The recognition and reversal happen at the same
time-
Peripeteia and Anagnorisis
Oedipus
Oh god- all come true, all burst to light! O light- now let me look
my last on you!

But now for all your power Time, all seeing Time has
dragged you to the light, judged your marriage monstrous
from the start-
The son and father tangling, both one- Oh child of Laius,
would to god Id never seen you, never never!

Messenger delivers account of Jocastas death
What grief can crown this grief? Its mine alone, my
destiny- I am Oedipus!
Exodos


Illusion of human happiness

Chorus
now as we keep our watch and wait for the final day, count no
man happy till he dies, free of pain at last.
Hamartia-
Oedipus's hamartia is hubris
Peripeteia
Reversal ( the hero gets what he wants but what he wants turns
out to be destructive)
Anagnorisis
recognition
Catharsis
A purging of emotion by the audience that occurs when Oedipus
blinds himself.


Echoes humanitys quest for identity and meaning in an
indifferent universe.
Themes
Fate/ free will
Ambition/pride
Vision/ blindness
Role of the Chorus
Concerned citizens who provide advice and guidance
Dramatic irony
When the audience knows something the characters do not.
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Oedipus DVD-1951